Cessna Skyhawk SP (172S) / TD Single-Turboprop Personal / Business Aircraft, USA

The Cessna 172 Skyhawk SP and TD (Turbo Diesel) follow a 172 manufacturing tradition of over five decades. Since its first flight in 1955 and its subsequent first delivery of a production aircraft in 1956, Cessna has manufactured 38,023 172s for customers located in nearly every country in the world. A military version of the 172, the T-41 Mescalero, is used by the US armed forces as a trainer aircraft.

The Skyhawk is a four-seat aircraft and can operate with one or two pilots.

The aircraft is a single turboprop and most is commonly for personal and small business use, or as a trainer; Cessna has nearly 300 Cessna Pilot Centres (CPCs) worldwide.

The Model 172S is certified to the requirements of US FAA Federal Aviation Regulation Part 23 through amendment 23-6, including day, night, VFR (Visual Flight Rules) and IFR (Instrument Flight Rules). Cessna expects to make the first deliveries of the TD version in mid-2008; TD engine manufacturer Thielert has an FAA supplemental type certificate.

TURBOPROP ENGINES

The Skyhawk SP is powered by a Lycoming IO-360-L2A single-piston engine developing 134.22kW at 2,700rpm driving a McCauley fixed-pitch two-blade metal propeller.

The Skyhawk TD is powered by a Thielert Centurion 2.0 single-piston engine developing 115.58kW at 2,300rpm driving a composite constant-speed three-blade propeller.

Cessna claims that up to 30% less fuel will be consumed by the diesel engine; the TD uses Jet A fuel. The TD model has an improved take-off and climb performance and a reduced noise signature.

SKYHAWK FLIGHT DECK

The SP model features OEM-installed Bendix / King and Garmin avionics. However, both the SP and TD models of the Skyhawk are available (standard equipment on the TD) with the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit, which provides all primary flight, engine and sensor data in real time on two 26.4cm active matrix LCDs.

CABIN

The 4.40m³ cabin is configured for four people, one or two pilots and a two-seat bench seat. The cabin is accessed via a 1.03m-high by 0.88m-wide (on average) door. The baggage area and baggage net are aft of the rear seat, and is accessed via a 0.56m-high by 0.39m-wide door.